Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-05

these conclusions, varied as they are
and arrived at by men employed by the
prosecution to End cause for the re-
moyal of trustees, is based the
false and malignant accusation that Mr.,
Colby has diverted to his own use $5,-
All 53 Of public money.
The report shows that the board OF
trustees submitted o detailed statement
OF their own, covering all these trans
actions, but the report omits to place
before the public this detailed state
ment Of the defence. Yetit isa much
more reliable statement than the state
uent Of the experts, because it contains
the actual items of expenditure. certified
by vouchers. This statement made
by the defence shows that the territory
yet owes Mr.. COLBY $40 for expendi-
lures made in the construction work
out OF which he is charged by the
prosecution with stealing between $5 900
and $4,000.
| The report OF the public examiner
further ssAtes that Mr.. OF bby, as score
tary OF the old board of trustees, caused
to be issued to himself, as secretary, war
rants to- the amount OF $24, ,750 and that
he received and disbursed the cash upon
these warrants. Out of this $24,750 he
caused to be made improvements eg-
gregatinR some $4,000 and the experts
represent that he might have executed
this work more aheaply
than he did, while he
makes an opposite showing in his state.
ment and gives the items for which the
expenditure was made. III is held that
the old board OF trustees permitted Mlr.
COLBY to cause to be drawn these war
rants in his own name. In connection
with this proceeding We have no de-
fence to offer and no criticism to advances
The amount specified was drawn in MIR.
Oobby's name as secretary. Whether
| right or wrong, it was a custom honored
6y previous boards and the then auditor
OF the territory. who iseued the war
rants and who is supposed to know The
law says 1t was regular and duly author
lied. The question upon which the
accusation against Mr.. Colby hinges is,
did he properly expend the $24.750
drawn by him In his capacity as score
tary? His itenlized statement and
| vouchers show that he did. The estl-
mates Of experts allege that he did not.
One is the showing Of an official detend-
ing his integrity. The other is the alle-
cation of fpartisans on the hot trail for
offices which can be obtained only
Through the destruction OF character.
The report gives place to the mathemati-
cal guesses OF the experts In full. II
carefully abstains from quoting the
actual figures produced by the defense.
Perhaps this is fair, from q partisan
standpoint, bat the public will not SO
Judge.
/ Upon these allegations against Mr.
Oobby, o member of q defunct board oi
trustees and not member of the
present board OF trustees, the governor
adjudges Messra Powers. Williams and
VanTassel, of the present board Of trus-
tees, guilty of miafeasance and admins
ters to them an official rebuke.
| Under It's technical definition mis-
fessanoe is q Sin Of omission--not q very
serious transgression--a failure merely
60 do something which it is alleged they
should have done.
| Reduced to cold words the goYerno,
finds that majority of the presen
board of trustees omitted to restrain
member ofa former board OF trnsteel
| from placing himself in d position wher,
partisan experts might seHtimate that b,
had pilfered public funds. This is al
there is in the finding Of the goyerno
after long ex parte examination, con.
Quoted under the auspices OF politica
Organization in the full strength of pow
er, urged and encouraged by the spoils
cry of dem ocratie administration
wherever you see republican head
hit It,"
The governor concludes that he ha
no authority to remove the trustees VIII,
stand in the way ofa change in the man
agement OF the hospital for the insane
SO is is presumed that they will remain
in office and that the object OF the cam
| paign is fully frustrated. This oonclu
sion by the governor is to be commend
ed as eminently sound. he has found
that his servants have committed n,
: wrong and are not therefore liable to re
moval.
Il The reports Of the investigators in n
way reflect npon the management OF tn
hospital. On the contrary they com
mend it. As the enquiry was institute,
4 with the purpose Of securing the re-
| moyal of these managing officers ant
giving their places to democrats its resul
/ strengthens them IN their positions, The,
are found to be able, honorable and of
fcient officers. This was known b,
i Meesrs Powers, Williams and vanTssse
j prior to the investigation, and becaus
!. they knew it they declined to remov
these men, preferriDg rather to lncu
the RANGER OF the partisan spoils seeker
n who attempted to coeroe them into th
surrender OF an honorable public policy
They have passed through the ordeal {
malignant end baselsss attack,
: They have been charged Wit
! crimes which the investigatio